Jesse Boulerice of the Philadelphia Flyers was suspended 25 games yesterday for his vicious stick attack to the face of Vancouver's Ryan Kesler earlier this week.

Vancouver Canucks' Ryan Kesler lies on the ice behind Flyers' goaltender Martin Biron after getting hit by Flyers’ Jesse Boulerice during the third period of NHL hockey action in Vancouver, Oct. 10.

By:Paul HunterSports Reporter, Published on Sat Oct 13 2007

Jesse Boulerice of the Philadelphia Flyers was suspended 25 games yesterday for his vicious stick attack to the face of Vancouver's Ryan Kesler earlier this week.

The penalty matched the longest ever meted out by the NHL for an on-ice incident but league disciplinarian Colin Campbell made it clear Boulerice was "lucky" to not face a much stiffer sentence.

If Kesler had been seriously injured, the 29-year-old forward would have likely been in street clothes for longer period and might possibly, implied Campbell, be facing criminal prosecution.

"(Boulerice) decided to do something that resulted in a bad action but not a bad result. And he was lucky," said Campbell.

"If there was a worse result, maybe there would be more than me looking into it today and that wouldn't be good for any of us."

In what Campbell termed a "deliberate" and "senseless" act, Boulerice cross-checked Kesler across the face as the Canuck rounded the net in the third period Wednesday night during a game at Vancouver. Kesler, who was not carrying the puck, went down hard but was not seriously hurt. He was in the Canucks lineup last night against the Edmonton Oilers.

"Boulerice broke the shaft of his stick on Ryan Kesler's jaw," said Campbell. "Boulerice went out of his way to deliver the cross-check and we will not tolerate this kind of conduct."

The 25 games matched the suspension given Islander forward Chris Simon last season for a baseball bat-like swing to the head of the Rangers' Ryan Hollweg. Hollweg was not seriously hurt either.

"Call it luck ... but in Chris Simon's situation and in the situation with Jesse Boulerice, if they cause injury, we're into a whole heap of problems, not only the player, but the teams in the league and our sport," said Campbell.

Bertuzzi broke Steve Moore's neck with a blind side punch in 2004; McSorley cold-cocked Donald Brashear with his stick from behind in 2000.

"I would hope players would understand and see what could happen and what can come of these things and that they have to control themselves," said Campbell.

Boulerice, a native of Plattsburgh, N.Y., said last night that he regretted his actions.

"I'm very apologetic for what I did and I am ready to face my suspension. I knew I was going to pay the consequences for my actions against Ryan Kesler in Vancouver and I respect the decision handed down by Mr. Campbell," he said.

In the court of public opinion, Boulerice is a goon. He was previously banned from the OHL for swinging his stick like a baseball bat into the head of Andrew Long from the Guelph Storm in 1998.

The NHL's CBA, however, does not allow the league to take into consideration suspension from outside the league when handing out punishment. So Boulerice is not considered a repeat offender.

It is the second significant suspension given a Philadelphia player in less than a month. Prospect Steve Downie is sitting out 20 games for a leaping shoulder check to the head of Ottawa's Dean McAmmond during exhibition play.

The actions of the Flyers recall the 1970s version of the club when they were nicknamed the Broad Street Bullies.

"It's almost implied that's the direction we're going when it couldn't be further from the truth," said Philadelphia coach John Stevens.

Added Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren: "I think we're in agreement that there's no place in the game for this anymore. . . . It's something that's not right to do at any time."

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